Recent WWE Hall of Fame-inductee and former WWF Champion The Ultimate Warrior passed away on Tuesday suddenly while walking to his car at an Arizona hotel. WWE confirmed his passing to a shocked WWE Universe late-Tuesday night, but gave no details as to what his cause of death was.
Scottsdale police spokesman Sergeant Mark Clark has provided an update on the circumstances surrounding his sudden passing.
“On April 8 at 5:50 pm 54-year-old “Warrior” James B Hellwig collapsed while walking with his wife to their car at the Gainy Suites Hotel in Scottsdale, Ariz. Scottsdale Fire transported to a local hospital, where he was pronounced dead soon after arrival. At this point in the investigation, it appears as though a catastrophic medical condition caused his death.”
According to TMZ, Warrior was seen clutching his chest just prior to collapsing, and a massive heart attack is speculated as the cause of death. Warrior had been connected to steroid usage in 1992, and was released by WWE after Vince McMahon had been under federal investigation for providing performance enhancing drugs to his wrestlers.
Steroids and related drugs have been an issue in the past with wrestlers, having lead to several early deaths. Among the most famous is Eddie Guerrero, who died from a heart defect related to steroid usage.
An autopsy is scheduled for Thursday. Wrestling Rumors will have more information as it is released.
Editor’s Note
The world is still in shock over the death of The Ultimate Warrior. I would not be surprised to see this as a heart-related issue, as he did look worn down from his incredibly strenuous weekend on “Monday Night Raw.”
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